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Cazorla needs to step up for Arsenal to improve

Is Santi Cazorla doing enough playing in the creative midfield role for Arsenal? by SE

Santi Cazorla was going to be one of the key personnel for Arsenal this season, as the North Londoners were without Mesut Ozil to start off with, and Alexis Sanchez was new to the club. Cazorla, who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger — positions that Ozil and Sanchez play, needed to fire for the Gunners to enjoy a slick start to their season. But as has been the case with Cazorla in the last couple of seasons, the Spaniard continues to disappoint with his performances when Arsenal desperately need somebody to take control of proceedings and deliver at the most critical of times. Looking back, how has the Spaniard fared for the North Londoners so far?

Cazorla has created a paltry 16 chances (registering only a single assist) in his 11 appearances for the North Londoners this season. Playing in the creative midfield role, ahead of Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Flamini, Cazorla needs to be doing a lot more than what he, going by the stats, has done so far. Because if Cazorla can play to his true potential, Arsenal have the right blend of Sanchez’s industry to go with the Spaniard’s creativity, which is what you want in the middle and final third of pitch. Arsenal is not a counterattacking side, which relies on lightning quick wingers and forwards, and it is precisely due to that reason Cazorla needs to deliver assists and a handful of goals for Arsenal.

Cazorla, like many Arsenal players this season, is short on confidence and has tried to overdo things rather than keeping them simple and uncomplicated. For instance, against Sunderland, the Spaniard had numerous chances to get his first goal of the season but, unlike his usual self, he dragged and over hit 3 of his 4 shots which, on another day, would have been taken nonchalantly.

With Ozil’s absence to contend with, Wenger needs Cazorla to fire playing in what is a ‘false 10’ position. Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, when fit, will start alongside each other and ahead of Cazorla, which could be positive for Arsenal given the Spaniard’s wretched performances this season. There is definite intent on the part of Cazorla to do well, and continue being an integral part of Wenger’s first choice XI; but, on the balance of his displays and the aura he exudes at the moment, Cazorla isn’t doing too much of good for himself, and neither for his team.

30 thoughts on “Cazorla needs to step up for Arsenal to improve”

We can’t have guys like Wilshere, Cazorla and Ozil and still struggle with creating scoring opportunities.

In the absence of Ozil, I think the person best suited to that creative role is Cazorla, but he just has to take it easy and be calm while playing. Unlike him, he shoots damn to wide these days.

As for Wilshere, I just think the only problem he has is not passing the ball when necessary. And he’s not the type that shoots from outside the box, neither is Ozil. But Ozil is the calmest of them all and he really knows when to let go of the ball. Just that the other two (Jack and Santi) have better work -rate than him.

@KickAssFan.
Nice breakdown. My thoughts exactly.
If I was to choose between them, I will chose Ozil and play a midfield powerhouse like Diaby/Toure/Khedira in a double pivot behind. That’s a completely balanced midfield.

Imagine having guys like that behind Ozil while there’s Walcot to the right, Sanchez to the left and Welbeck in the middle upfront, the first team I’d luv to play would be Chelsea. Just throw them off the bridge.

Sanchez didn’t even need a a month to settle down in London…. Wow!…. Its wiLshere, flamini, arteta, mertesacker who needs more time to settle down on the bench ….. And oh! Wenger too, needs to settle down in monaco

I think our team is intimidated by sanchez? all of them sees a complete gem, a player that can turn a game around and isn’t afraid to work hard. I don’t understand why ox told him to slow down in training wtf? Instead of raising their game they praise him……some players needs to get roughened up abit.

Even when ozil arrived, I still saw cazorla as the most creative spark. The fella just needs a few goals and assists to get going.

I think welbeck need to stop occupying the wings and coming in deep. he needs to run in behind take shot. he has the passing dna already, he needs to do what Henry did, run at defences and shoot more.

My favourite player theo. I think a fully fit theo is one of the few players near to sanchezes ability except dribbling. He does not give a sh*t bout passing here and there, his one player that just thinks about assisting and scoring.

don’t want to babble to much, hope the gunners can go on a 10 game winning streak.
(cumoon we can do it)…

@SoOpa AeoN.
Some people might not want to hear what you just said. But it’s not too far from the truth!

What I personally noticed during Sanchez’ celebration of his second goal against Sunderland, is that he has more FIRE IN HIS BELLY than the others do. Hence he is unarguably fighting more than the others, even when they do not have the energy to celebrate his second goal.

See, it is simple:
If Sanchez is BEGGING you to press, and you are not pressing along side him 70% of the time, then you simply are not supporting Sanchez enough. I noticed Welbeck was one of the few that used to press with such intensity, chasing opponents until they turned over the ball to us. Where did that fire go to? Because I did not notice it in his performances the last 2 or 3 games.

Here is a personal message to the lads:

Please guys, learn from Sanchez how and why you should PRESS THE BALL WITH AS MUCH INTENSITY YOUR BODY CAN GIVE so you can atleast win balls in dangerous areas like Sanchez did against Sunderland. Don’t give up easily.
PS: I luv u all!

I almost passed out when I read a piece on our official website that Diaby is trying to be a mentor for the young lads, please God let this not be true we don’t need him brain washing the lads on how pretty our nurses are and how good it is to get paid while not contributing to the club.

Am tired of these short little men running around in our midfield, unless they are workaholics like Sanchez of course which they are not!!!

Only if we could attract the likes of Matildi (Psg), Snedarlin (Southampton, my French is bad), Kondobia, hell I would take Alex song back or even Hull city monster that bossed our team at the Emirates.

It’s a bit shameful that we have creative midfielders like Ozil and Cazorla, forwards like Welbeck,Podolski, Welbeck and Giroud and not score enough. Yes we don’t have a Costa/Falcao/Aguero type striker. But if Wenger had put Ozil and Cazorla in the number 10 position all season, I guarantee you that we would have seen more goals. Ozil was fantastic against Galatasaray and Villa when he played at number 10. Can only blame Wenger for bad tactics.